Aveley House

Updated 20 April 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 30 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 20 April 2021

About the service

Aveley House is a residential care home providing personal care to five people living with a learning disability at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to seven people in one adapted building which was larger than most domestic style properties, however the building design fitted into the residential area.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were safe living at the service. Staff had knowledge of safeguarding procedures and were clear about what actions to take to protect people from harm. Families were confident their relative was safe and were certain that if they reported a concern it would be dealt with appropriately.

Safe staff recruitment ensured people employed were suitable to work at the service. Staff received a comprehensive induction, training and supervision, and we found staff to be knowledgeable. Staff told us the training was good with courses that were relevant to meet the skills required to provide people with supportive care.

Staff interacted positively with people in a kind and sensitive way. People were treated with dignity and respect. People and staff worked together to create a caring atmosphere where people were encouraged and supported to be as independent as they were able.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service was bright, clean and tidy. Aspects of people’s lives were depicted in photographs in the communal lounge which showed their involvement in a variety of activities. People’s communication needs were assessed and supported through verbal, pictorial, gestures and sign language. There was a keyworker system in place and staff knew the people well. One relative told us, “I can’t fault them, it feels like a family unit.”

The service worked closely with health and social care professionals to ensure people’s mental, physical and social wellbeing was supported, and referrals were made in a timely manner.

Person-centred care plans and risk assessments provided guidance for staff on the provision of care and to minimise risk of harm, whilst allowing for the personal development of people as individuals.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

Specific dietary needs were catered for and people were involved in their meal planning and purchasing of groceries, which provided choice. People were supported to attend to daily lifestyle chores which provided independence and developed skills.

Medicines were managed effectively, and infection control procedures followed to minimise the risk of infection.

The management team were compassionate and knowledgeable. There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. Staff told us they felt supported and that the registered manager was approachable.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.

The service used some restrictive intervention practices as a last resort, in a person-centred way, in line with positive behaviour support principles.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 26 January 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk